“My company’s COO asked ‘what is parental leave? ’...and we’re a healthcare start up.”

“We need something for parents NOW! I returned to work full time before my NICU babies were discharged from the hospital because I ran out of leave time.”

“Went back to work 2 weeks after I had my first child and was shamed...because I had to pump in the bathroom”

“TWO weeks paid mat leave as a healthcare worker”

These are just a few (of hundreds) of stories from our audience about their experience with paid family leave. Too many parents are forced back to work much sooner than they or their families are ready for. As a nonpartisan company geared toward millennial women, theSkimm has always discussed issues impacting women in the workplace. But, this isn’t just a women’s issue. We’re launching the #ShowUsYourLeave movement because not only do we need to get loud about the struggles we’re faced with in navigating new parenthood and how paid family leave – or lack thereof – has an impact, but we also need resources and solutions that we can utilize to create change together.

What’s theSkimm?

The US is one of only a handful of countries in the world not to offer paid family leave at a national level. Even in the private sector, only about a quarter of US workers have access to it. Families need more.

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 granted 12 weeks of unpaid leave for eligible employees. While a bill that went into effect in 2020 gave federal government employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave. As for everyone else...the Senate is still debating a social spending package that narrowly passed in the House, and could include up to four weeks of paid family and medical leave for eligible US workers. A drop in the bucket compared to the paid time off that parents can take in some other countries (see: Britain’s 39 weeks, Norway’s 49 weeks, and Estonia’s 80+ weeks). But in the US, family leave might look like a puzzle made up of sick days, short-term disability insurance, vacation, and PTO. That’s if leave is available at all.

So, we’re using our voices and our platforms to advocate for broad, long overdue change. It all starts with sharing our personal experiences. And inspiring individuals and companies – both big and small – to share their policies too. 

Join theSkimm in its #ShowUsYourLeave movement to amplify the conversation around parenthood in America by signing on in support of more expansive paid family leave. And encourage private companies, businesses, and CEOs alike to take action.

Want to learn more? Head to theSkimm.com/paid-family-leave-benefits for more resources, news & information, stories from our community, and more.